Body construction



July 10, 1928. v 1,676,599

, P. E. BRENEMAN BODY CONSTRUCTION Filed March 4, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 7 EIATTORNEY July 10, 1928., 1,676,599 v E. BRENEMAN BODY CONSTRUCTION Filed March 4, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 'ATTORNEY Patented: .luly 10,-l9 28 l I H v UNITED STATES PATENT oer-"Ice;

PAUL .n 'BRENEMAN, or nE'rRorr, m/trcmeem nssrenonro T-H n' swmmxm coaronmrron, or SOUTHJBEND, mnrene, A CORPORATION or new JERSEY.

BODY CONSTRUCTION, 1.

Application filed March 4,1926, s nate-92,223.

This inventionrelates t automobile bodywith reference to-the accompanying drawpillars, and the. principal object is-to proings,-andthenclaimed, having the above and vide such a" pillar made principally from other objects, in view. Y pressed metal in such a manner that-kit will In the accompanying drawings which ilbe light but strong and economical to manulustrate asuitable embodiment of the pres- 60 facture. ent invention, and in which like numerals Another object is to provide a sheet metal refer to I like parts throughout the several body pillar com-prising'a-n inner andfan outer difterent views:

membersecured together to form a hollow Figure 1 1s a perspective View of an auto-v:

i structure. Y a v .Another object is to provide a 'body Pll": is incorporated; v v 'lar comprising two. channel-shaped metal Figure 2' (Sheet '2) is a perspective view, stampings adapted to extend from the sill from the innerface side, of the completed 1-. to the roof rail, one stamping fitting with pillar embodying the present invention, in and being secured to the other to-form a showing a portion of a wooden roof rail '70 hollow structure within which suitable supsecured thereto, i y ports are providedfor various door engag- Figure 2 (Sheet 1')' isa perspective vieW' ing devices. f of thelower portion of the pillar of Figure .Another object is to providea pillar of the '2, showing the same. secured to a wooden type described comprisng an outer channel body sill. x l j shaped member closed by a second channel- Figure 2" (Sheet 1) is a transverse secshaped member,-the outer member bein cut tion'al viewthrou'gh' the sill shown in Figure away at suitable points to receive door eye takenflon the near side of the pillar, more 1 tails and ,doorbumpers, the 'supportsfor the -.clearly showing the manner in which the pildove-tails and bumpers being secured-to the .1211 is secured thereto. a inner face of the outer member. in matching FigureQ (Sheet 2)jis a sectionvtaken on. relation to said cut-away portions, and the the line 2 ofFigure 2.- inner me'm'ber forming anabutment for cer Figure 3 is aperspective I three-quarter tain of said parts. v W front face view o-fithe outer channel pillar Another object is to provide a pillar of the member only. r I type described comprising an outer channel- 7' Figure 3 is a perspective three-quarterfl shaped-member closed by a second channelrearface view of the channel member shown shaped member facing inthe same direction, in FigureB, I V l to form a hollow structure, the channel of Figure 4: is a perspective three-quarter the second member being filledwith-a strip front face view of the inner channel pillar 9 of wood roviding a-tacking strip for inte member only. i V rior upho stery material and other purposes. Figure 4 is a perspective three-quarter Another object is to provide a 'pillar as rear face view of theinner channel member above described tov the upper end of which is shown in Figure 4. v ag secured vertical and horizontal attaching -Fi gure v5 is a perspective view of the 05' flanges which are adapted to receive both foot flange which is adapted to be securedv the bottom and a side face of the roofrail to the inner channel member adjacentit-s thereby to berigidly secured to the same. lower edge.

A further object is to provide aninwardiFigure 6 is aperspective view of the horimobile body in whlch the present invention" 1y extending horizontal'flange adjacent the zontal flange member which is adapted to I lower end of the pillar for connection to the be secured to the upper end of the pillar. top face of the body sill, the edges of the Figure 7 is a perspective view of the verti inner channel member below the flange being calflange member which is adapted to be if suitably bent to provide vertically extending secured to the upper end of thepillarQ.

5o attaching flanges adapted to be secured to Figure 8 is a perspective view of the woodthe outer edge of thesill. ven block which is adapted to be secured be- 7 7 The above being among the objects of the tween the two channel members at the point present invention, the same consists of 'cerwhere thedoor-striker' plate is secured.

tain features of construction and combina- Figure 9'1s -a perspective view from the '55 tions of parts to be hereinafter described front face ofthe inner channel member to shown in Figure 9.

which the parts shown in Figures 5, 6, 7

1 member with various attached parts as present invention.

shown in Figure 9, assembled to the outer channel member, various other partsbeing alsoshown in assembled relation thereto.

Figure ;10-"is a perspective view of the parts .as shown in Figure 10, taken from the rear face thereof.

Figure 11 is an enlarged perspective fragmentary view of the pillar showing the door dove-tail in assembled relation thereto.

Figure '11 isa perspective view of the spring wear plate of the door dove-tail.

Figure 11 .is a perspective view of one of the rubber blocks employed in the door dovetail.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the various members of the door dove-tail in the :elationship which they assume towards each other when assembled in the pillar.

Figure '11 is a fragmentary perspective view of the pillar, showing'in dotted lines .the position which the assembly. shown n Figure 11 assumes in relation thereto.

Figure 12 (Sheet 4) is a perspective View of the door bumper and support in the position which they assume in relation to each other when assembled to the pillar. Figure 12 (Sheet 4) is a fragmentary perspective view of the pillar showing the members of Figure 12 secured thereto in assembled relation therewith.

Figure 13 (Sheet 4) is a perspective View of thelatch striker plate which is secured to the pillar in the position shown in Figures 2, and 10. I

In Figure 1 an embodiment of the present invention is shown in the pillar which,

for this particular view, is designated by the numeral 20, and which extends between the sill 21 and top rail 22 of the automobile body 23 between the front door 24 and rear door 25 thereof. In the embodiment shown neither of the doors 24 or 25 isshown hinged on and supported by the pillar 20, and the drawings and following description refer to the pillar as shown in Figure 1-, although it will be readily apparent that by slight changes the doors may be hinged to the pillar 20, and such is within the'scope of the The pillar, indicated by the numeral 20 in Figure 1, and shown in enlarged View in completed condition in Figure 2, has for its main body portion two pressed metal members 26 and 27 which, when suitable auxiliary parts are attached thereto, go to make up the'completed pillar. The member 26, which I prefer to call the outer member, is shown alone in perspective in Figures 3 and 3, and its section is shown in Figures 2", 11 and 12 which latter Views show this member in combination with otherparts. As shown, it-compr-ises a pressed sheet metal member extending from the body sill 21 to the roof rail 22, its front face portion, which for convenience is also designated by the numeral 26, being suitably curved in its length. to conforn rto the curve of the side of the body 23- at the point where it is positioned, and its inner edges being substantially straight from its upper-end to a point near the bottom end thereof. In section it is channel-shaped with the corners rabbeted to match the corresponding rabbet'ed edges of l the doors, the metal being bent back and then out from the front face 26 to form the faces 28 and 29 of the rabbet, and then rearwardly to form the main side faces 30. lie cause of the curved outer face of the pillar and the slight curveonly of the inner face, the side faces 30 become relatively narrow at their lower ends, this being done for construction purposes. If desired, the lower end of the face' portion 26 maybe extended 5 and bent inwardly to provide an attaching I flange as illustrated in Figures 2, 2", 3 and 10'" for securement to the bottom face of the body sill 21 as shown in F igure2 Openings 31 are provided in the faces'29 and 30 at their pointof junction for reception of v the door bumpers as will be described later,

and other openings 32 are provided in the same faces forthe door dove-tail which will also be described later. shown, depressions or pockets 33 are provided in the faces 30 in which are secured door latch strike plates 34, the pocket being necessary for use in certain forms of door and latch constructions not shown, but may be dispensed with for use in connection with the conventional types of door and latch constructions.

The inner channelmember 27'has a face portion which, for convenience is also desig- In the construction IOU nated as 27, and sides 35, it being formed tosuch shape and dimensions that it fits into and. nests within the free edges of the outer member 26, itbeing positioned in the same lLZO relativedirection as the outer member 26 with its free. edges flush with-the free edges.- of the outer member 26, in which position it is adapted to be secured by spot welding, riveting or the like. It is provided with depressions 36 and 37 which serve as socketing seats for the upper end and lower door bumpers blocks 38 which will be described 1 later. Depressions 39 are also provided for the same reason for the door dove-tail blocks which will also be described 1 later. Notches 41ers formed in its edges as shown in Figures 4, 4 91and 9 to provide a recess for the edge of the pocket 33? in the outer member 26 to seatin. If desired, key hole,

slots such as .42 may be provided for removably securing the woodenfiller; and tacking,

provided .with rabbeted edges so as to be capable of nesting within the rabbeted front face of theouter member,,and further, that the sides .35 at the extreme lower end are bent back on themselves to provide vertical attaching flanges 43 which are adapted to be secured: to the out'eredge of the body sill 21. An L-shaped. trough-sectionedstamping 44, shown in perspective in Figure 5, is secured to thelower end of the inner member.

27, as shown in; Figures 9 and. 9; with its vertical leg nested within and'welded or otherwise secured thereto, the horizontal leg extending inwardly away. from the face of the pillar in aplane flush with the top ofthe attaching flanges 43 to provide an tat taching flange for securement to the top face of the body sill 21."

The'upper end of the inner member 27 is provided with means for receiving the roof rail 22 as follows: An [:shaped stamping (see Figure 6) havinga vertical-leg portion 45- and outs pread horizontal flanges 46 is secured to the upper end of the inner member27, as shown in Figures 9 and 9 by rivetingor welding the leg. 45 to the outside face portion 27.v The horizontal flanges 46' are flush with the upper end of the member j .27 and are turned outwardly ina position tobe secured to the roof rails22. A second stamping (see Figure 7) having a vertical leg .47 and an offset verticalfflange 48 is secured within the upper endof themember 27. (see Figures 9 and 9) by riveting'or welding the leg 47 thereto, the flange 48 beiug offset from the outer faee gofthe pillar so that it=is=flush with the free edges o'f'the member. These two stampings thus form a horizontal flangeon whiclr'the roof rail 22 may rest, and a vertical flange against which the inner face oftheroof rail 22may abut and be secured as shown-in Figure 2.

In addition, a wooden block 49, formed to fit within the outer member 26, is secured to the face of the member 27at'a pointeorre- .sponding tothe position which the striker plate 34 ispositioned on the outer member 26, thereby to provide means for securing the striker plate in p'ositionwhen the parts are completely assembled, and to relieve local .tion 30.

stresses at that point due to the door latch boltstriking the striker plate when thedoor' is slammed shut. 1 v I The inner member 27 as thus (lGSCllbGd, with the stau'iplngs secured to the upper and lower ends a'nd the block 49 secured in place,

is ready tobe assembledto the outer member 26', but beforethis is done, the door bumper and dove-tail supports are secured to the inner face of the member 26.

The supports'for the door-bumpers (shown best in Figure 12), each comprise a piece of 1 strip metalbent to form a dove tail recess having a base portion '50 and convergent side portions 51 terminating in'outwardly extending attaching flanges'52 parallel to the base 50. 1 These supports are secured to the inside face of thesideportions 30 of the 'main out-er member 26 with the recess opening outwardly and in matching. relation with its corresponding opening 31 in the main outer member 26, the flanges 52 being'riveted or welded to theinside face of theside por- The door bumper'bloeks 38 are provided. with tape-red side walls complementary to the convergent side walls 51 of their supporting members and are adapted to be received therein as indicated in Figure 1.2, a screw or the likesuch as 53 being preferably-=provided for passing through each block 38 and'into the support for preventing relative displacement of the blocks 38 in respectthereto. It willbe noted that the blocks 38 are. longer than their supports so that when assembled thereto, which is :prefe'rably not done untilthe outer main mem-. ber 26 has been assembled to the inner menr ber 27, they project a; g substantial amount past the rabbet" faces28 soas to be in proper position to engage the complementary faces of the door 24 or 25 which engage the same/ The supports'for the door dove-tails (best shown in Figure ll?) arelikewiseformed ofsheet metal, to provide a recess, having a -bottom wall 54 and parallelfside walls 55 terminating i outwardly bent attaching flanges '56.- T es'e supports are secured to the inside face ofthe member 26 inmatchingrelation to the openings 32 in the same 1nauner as the supports for the door bumpers previoiislydescribed. Their position, when Figure 11 The dove-tails themselves each comprise two rubber blocks 40 seated in the recess formed bythe bottom ,wall 54 and lit assembled, best shown bv dotted lines in side walls 55 of their support and separated I by and held against the side walls 55 by vmeansof a U-shaped spring metal member 57 shown alone in perspective in Figure-11 and shown best in operative position in respect to the blocks 40 in Figure 11 The spring 57 .is' position'ed with the open end of the U facing towards the outside face 2620f the pillar,- which open end is in 'matchingrelation with that partof the opening 32- formed in the rabbet face 29' so as tobe capable of receiving the usual male portion ofthe dovetail (not shown) secured to the edge of the door in matching relation therewith. The blocks 40 and spring 57 may be assembled in position after the outer member 26 and inner the spring 57'holding the parts in operative member 27 have been assembled, together,

' position. The outer member 26 er and door dove-tail supports secured thereto is in condition to recelve theuinner member 27 with its auxiliary parts as shown in'Figurest)v and 9*, the inner member 27 nesting within the outer member 26 as previously described and as illustrated .in Figures 10, 10 11 and 12*, the side walls of the inner member 27 being welded or otherwise secured to sidewalls 30 of the.

outer member thus providing a hollow struc ture of great strength and of comparativelylightweight. After these two members 26 and 27 are thus assembled together,the door bumper blocks 38 and door dove-tail blocks 40 and spring 57 are assembled, although they may be assembled beforehand but may introduce difficulties in the finishing of the pillar if so done; inserted and secured in place their inner ends are received by the-depressions 36' in the inner member 27 .andabut against the bottom thereofgjso that the inner member 27 takes all of the heavy strains imposed on the door bumpers. The rubber blocks 40 and the rear end of the spring 57 likewise are received in and abut against the bottom ofithe depressions 39 of .the inner member 27 for the-same reasons as referred tacking strip 58 and a lower tacking strip 59 are provided, the upper one being perma; vnently secured in place by any suitable means such as byscrews or the like passing through the side faces 30 and 35, and the lower-one may be removably secured in place byh'eaded pins (not shown) on its .concealed face co-operating with the keyhole slots 42p'reviously described, or both may be either removably or permanently secured in place as best suits conditions.

The pillar is now ready to be finished and with the door buinp- When the blocks 38 areassembled to the automobile body of which. it is to form a part, the upper end being secured to the roof rail 22in the manner shown in Figure 2 and as previously described, and the lower end being secured to the body sill 21 as shown Figures 2 and '2".

While a wooden 1-0015. rail and, body sill has been'shown in the accompanying drawings, with the pillar ends formedaccord-.

ingly to receive them, it will be evident that slight changes may be made in the ends to 'adapt them for securement to metallic-rails 1 and sills ofvarious designs, and these and other formal changesmay be made in the:

specific embodiment of the inventionflcle-j scribed :Without departing from the'spirit and substance. of the broad invention, the;

scope of which is commensurate Witl pended claims.

l/Vhat I claim is,;

prising an inner and an outer sheet metal- 1 1. A pillar for an automobile body com trough sectioned member secured together in nested relation to form a hollow structure, an angle member secured to the inner face of said inner member at the upper end thereof to provide a horizontal attaching flange, and an offset member secured to said member adjacent to said angle member to provide a vertical attaching flange.

2. A pillar for an automobile body comprising an inner and an 'outersheet metal trough sectioned member secured together in nested relation to form a hollow structure, means secured to the upper end of said inner member providing horizontal and vertical attaching flanges, an angle, member secured within the trough of said inner member adjacent the lower end thereof to form a horizonta'l attaching flange, and the sides of said inner member below said angle member be-- ing bent-inwardly to provide a vertical attaching flange.

3. A pillar for .an automobile body comprising an innerand an outer sheet metal trough sectioned member secured together 'in nested relation to form a hollow structure for the greater part of its length, said outer member being formed to present rabbeted outer corners and the side walls thereof gradually reduced in depth towards the lower end thereof, said inner member being formed with complementary matching surfaces at its lower end engaging the inner surface of said outer member, anat-taching flange member securedto said inner member adjacent the lower end. thereof, and the side walls of said inner member below said flange member being bent back on themselves to provide other attaching flanges.

. Signed by me at Detroit, Michigan, U. S.

A., this 27th day of February 1926.

' PAUL E. BRENEMAN. 

